Munitions Empire

John looked somewhat discomposed as he stepped forward and fixed his eyes on his father, asking, "I don't understand, are you saying..."

"To put it bluntly, I have no intention of paying off that debt! A hundred thousand Gold Coins is not a small sum, and I refuse to pay it." Lett was triumphant about his decision; he saw no need to waste a hundred thousand Gold Coins on a man who was on the brink of death.

"But, Father! I promised Mr. Tang that within four months, I would make up the payment... almost a hundred thousand Gold Coins! It is not a small sum." John felt as if his own reputation had been tarnished.

Lett snorted with disdain and then said, "Since when did our Augustin Clan start caring so much about 'promises'? Child, what we care about is always the benefit."

"Rather than the short-term benefit gained from defaulting, Father, I see greater long-term benefit in cooperating with Mr. Tang." John reminded his father.

He didn't think Tang Mo was a simple character; how could a man who casually sold steam engines and breech-loading rifles be simple?

Therefore, John preferred to maintain a friendly cooperative relationship with Tang Mo rather than default on the debt; it was his most straightforward judgement.

And he had never doubted his judgement because he had really met Tang Mo and knew what kind of person he was.

To be frank, he didn't think he had seen through Tang Mo, which is why he considered him a dangerous person. It wasn't wise to antagonize a dangerous person, so he thought it best to persuade his father to pay up dutifully. read-more-on-NovelFire

Earl Lett had been valuing his son John quite highly of late, because John had brought back vital steam technology and breech-loading rifles to the Poplar Kingdom.

For a Kingdom, these technologies are more important than Gold Coins. Thus, Earl Lett was willing to explain his thoughts to this son as a form of cultivation and trust.

He stood up and walked over to John, explaining, "According to the intelligence we've gathered... the Shireck Consortium is preparing to make a move on Leite Kingdom. Trust me, child, your Mr. Tang will soon be crushed to dust by the Shireck Consortium! Do you think it's appropriate to hand over the hundred thousand Gold Coins we've worked so hard for to the Shireck Consortium?"

That was his significant reason for refusing to give Tang Mo another hundred thousand Gold Coins; he couldn't possibly give the money to a dead man, or someone on their way to death.

After all, it was a hundred thousand Gold Coins, not a trivial sum. If he kept that money, he could accelerate the development of his factory by several folds.

An early start for his factory would bring him immense profits, and also bring incomparable political benefits.

Compared to this, fulfilling an illusory promise clearly lacked allure — Earl Lett had reason to believe that the money would be more useful in his own hands.

"But you've seen Tang Mo's new weapons yourself, he could very well win that war!" John still wanted to insist, because in his mind, that inscrutable young man always seemed very dangerous to him.

This feeling came from instinct; every time John thought of those eyes, he felt as if he were a little mouse being stared at by some terrible beast — almost like being targeted by a venomous snake.

"You're right, so all we need to do is wait for the news, for a message of Shireck's victory or defeat," Lett said laughingly to his son: "Child, waiting doesn't cost a thing."

"Are you saying that if Tang Mo wins, we'll send him the money?" John felt as pure as a rabbit in front of his father, the old fox.

"Money? What money? I have no intention of sending a hundred thousand Gold Coins his way," Earl Lett laughed as he shook his head, picking up a tube from his desk and handing it to his son, "You will leave with this tomorrow and head for Brunas!"

"What's this?" John was taken aback before taking the tube from his father's hand. He opened the somewhat tattered lid and pulled out a yellowed map.

He unfolded the map and his eyes widened; he looked up at his father and said, "Father, this, this is... the nautical map of Black Dragon Island!"

"Correct, I cannot give you a hundred thousand Gold Coins because those funds are needed to expand and strengthen the Augustin Family." Earl Lett patted his son on the shoulder, "No money, but I can give him an island."

"Father, that island is a disputed area... we and other countries..." John had started to feel that his own head was inadequate.

In fact, the island was not part of the Poplar Kingdom's territory; it even had pirate settlements and rudimentary ports, so giving the island to Tang Mo was essentially being generous with someone else's resources.

"I know, child, I know... But how could I possibly allow you to give away the territory of the Poplar Kingdom?" Earl Lett continued to explain.

John held the map with a puzzled face, standing there unsure where to start. After a long hesitation, he finally spoke up and asked, "But, Father, how do you know for sure that he will accept this exchange?"

"Because he has no choice," Earl Lett burst into laughter. "Because, my refusal to give money, and you going to him with this map... is an individual action."

"Afterwards, I will announce that you have been expelled from the Augustin family due to defection." Lett pointed to the almost-signed document on the table and said to John, "Now, the choice is yours."

"Aren't you fond of this arms dealer named Tang Mo? Then I give you two choices. If you think he is worth the risk, then take this map and present Black Dragon Island as your pledge of allegiance to him.

Or you could choose to give up, and I'll tear up this document right now, put away the map, and then forget that we owe someone 100,000 Gold Coins." Lett extended two fingers, presenting John with two distinct choices.

"Why." John seemed to realize the reason for his father's actions, but still wanted to ask and hear his father's reply.

"In fact, when I decided to withhold the money, I was considering many things, my child." Augustine Lett did not beat around the bush but explained directly to his son, "I am not certain... I want to withhold 100,000 Gold Coins, yet I fear making an enemy of a potential second Shireck rising in the future."

"So, you're betting on both sides?" John pinpointed the key issue.

"The Augustin Clan has stood for a thousand years, what do you think that's based on? We have always been betting on both sides, there is nothing shameful about it, my child." Lett chuckled dismissively, "This way, our family will always have someone on the side of the victor."

"…" John fell silent because he too needed to make a choice, to ponder, to weigh his own answer.

Staying in the Poplar Kingdom was obviously the most comfortable choice. He had just made a great contribution and could naturally feast on the fruits of his achievements for a while. No one would have an objection because the merits he had made were indeed too significant.

However, the uneasiness prevented him from enjoying these rewards with peace of mind. The anxiety, like a thorn in his side, imposed a tangible, shadow-like pressure on John.

"I can't help you with this matter, only you have met that arms dealer, so only you know just how capable he truly is." Lett didn't rush him but offered comfort instead, "Take your time to think. If it's too difficult, go back and contemplate it. You have two months to decide; there's no need to hurry."

"No need, I will prepare and set sail tomorrow." John looked up, meeting his father's gaze, "Since I can't fulfill the promise of bringing him 100,000 Gold Coins, I might at least secure something for him!"

"Your kindness and reputation are your valuable assets... but trust me, sometimes, it is necessary to let things go, child." Lett patted John on the shoulder again, "Wishing you fair winds."

"Rest assured! No matter which one of us places the right bet, we can ensure the other's safety. If this Mr. Tang loses, you can just bring him back to work for us. And if I lose, you will be able to preserve the Augustin family." Lett said as he walked back to his desk, picking up the pen and signing his name on the unsigned document.

"I wonder if he'll kick me into the sea to drown me since I'm not bringing the 100,000 Gold Coins," John said sardonically as he tucked the precious map back into the tube and secured the lid.

Suddenly, as if he remembered something, he asked his father, "Is that all? What about the earldom I promised him?"

"Are you stupid? Since I've maliciously withheld the 100,000 Gold Coins, why would I ask for an earldom for someone I've made an enemy of?" Earl Lett was amused by his son's question, "Go on, get out! Hurry up and leave!"

"Heh heh!" John chuckled, then took the tube and left his father's office. The guards at the door still stood tall, with the revolver John had brought back from Brunas hanging at their waists.

Meanwhile, in another corner of the world, in the King City of the Leite Kingdom, the hefty gate was slowly pushed open by the gatekeeping guards. A knight in armor, holding high the Northern Ridge Wolf Banner edged with white, charged into the streets crowded with refugees.

The knight did not slow down, but galloped through the streets at full speed, shouting loudly, "Victory at Northern Ridge! Victory at Northern Ridge!"

People crowded at the roadside, craning their necks to watch the knight gallop past them, watching his wolf banner fluttering in the wind.

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